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Watanabe/Martell Nessmuk

So here's a really different knife that came in for a handle. The knife came to me without a handle, just a tang to work with a rough idea as to what was required. The customer had commissioned Watanabe to make him a Nessmuk knife. (In case you don't know who Nessmuk is - check him out).

I was to make a handle to match the blade. Watanabe being Japanese added a marked design influence to this style of knife but I was completely lost as to what to do for my part. The customer pretty much left it in my hands with some gentle nudges for ideas but still nothing clicked. Over 8 months passed and I just couldn't figure this one out, then it hit me, that I should do a Japanese inspired handle -duh! My thought was that since the blade was obviously Japanese knife tradition inspired, and since I do my knifemaking inspired by Japanese blades, that I should use this as the connection. So what you see here is my blend on my USA handle making work and what I get from Japanese hunting knife inspirations.

I probably would have gone with a more rustic stag handle, but what is interesting is that the handle you have created with the Hawaiian Signature has a texture like horn. Very nicely done Dave. Way to bring East and West together.

What are the specs on that knife? The blade looks a little long for a what I have seen in nessmuk style knives.

My grandfather was a big fan of his and I remember him talking about his writing about canoes. As a trapper and river and lake guide, canoeing was a way of life for him.